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1[[foldercontrol]]
2
3!!The Cartwright Family
4[[folder: Ben Cartwright]]
5!!Benjamin Cartwright
6[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ben_cartwright2_6.jpg]]
7%%
8-> Played by Creator/LorneGreene
9The owner of the Ponderosa ranch and the father of Adam, Hoss (Eric), and Joseph (Little Joe). Later he adopts orphan Jamie Hunter as his son giving him four sons in total. He is a [[GoodParents a good father]], [[BenevolentBoss a good boss]], and generally a good man.
10----
11!!Tropes:
12* CoolOldGuy: Ben is a man past his prime with hair already grayed out, but he remains a good shot with the revolver and is still charmingly charismatic.
13* GoodParents: Ben single-handedly raised his three sons to become good and honorable men of valor by instilling into them the same principles that helped shape him into what he is.
14* NonIdleRich: The owner of the biggest spread of the Nevada Territory. He’s engaged in physical labor on his own ranch and is very active in his community.
15* PapaWolf: Want to make Ben get real angry real fast then threaten one of his sons. He also does not appreciate any children, in general, being threatened.
16* [[SomeonetoRememberHimBy Someone to Remember Her By]]: In a rare male example of this trope, Ben has one son from each of his three dead wives: Adam from Elizabeth Stoddard, Hoss (Eric) from Inger Borgstrom and Little Joe from Marie De Marigny.
17[[/folder]]
18
19[[folder: Adam Cartwright]]
20!!Adam Eugene Cartwright
21[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/adam_cartwright2.jpg]]
22%%
23-> Played by Creator/PernellRoberts
24Ben's eldest son, with his first wife, Elizabeth, from Boston. Adam went to college for architecture and designed the house where the Cartwrights live. Intellectual and brooding, Adam's east coast education often puts him at odds with his less urbane brothers.
25----
26!!Tropes:
27* BigBrotherInstinct: Adam does not appreciate violence or threats against Hoss or Little Joe. He also defends them (or at least tries to) from [[GoldDigger women who would take advantage of them]].
28* DeadpanSnarker: Quick with a sardonic quip as he is with a gun.
29* TheStoic: He’s the more serious of his brothers, [[NotSoStoic though he’s able to lighten up]]
30[[/folder]]
31
32[[folder: Hoss Cartwright]]
33!!Eric "Hoss" Cartwright
34[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hoss_cartwright.jpg]]
35%%
36-> Played by Creator/DanBlocker
37Ben's middle son Eric, with his second wife, a Swedish pioneer named Inger. A quintessential gentle giant, Eric (better known as Hoss) is nonetheless the toughest and most dangerous Cartwright in a brawl, and a lot shrewder and more perceptive than his goofy grin and genial nature would suggest.
38----
39!!Tropes:
40* BewareTheNiceOnes: Hoss is one of the friendliest guys you'll ever meet... as long as you don't try to harm any one he cares about.
41* BigEater: A RunningGag.
42* GentleGiant: Hoss is one of the biggest men in Nevada territory, He is also one of the kindest.
43* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: No one calls him Eric. It’s [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] at his birth.
44-->'''Ben''': We'll give him both names and see which one sticks.
45[[/folder]]
46
47[[folder: Little Joe Cartwright]]
48!!Joesph Francis "Little Joe" Cartwright
49[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/little_joe_cartwright.jpg]]
50%%
51-> Played by Creator/MichaelLandon
52-> Dubbed by Creator/MarcCassot (European French)
53
54The youngest of the Cartwright boys, with Ben's final wife, a New Orleans-born French Canjun belle named Marie. A real hot-head who at times struggles with a need to prove himself as more than just the baby of the family. Throughout the series Joe grows from the tag-a-long little brother to a true leading man.
55----
56!!Tropes:
57* TheBabyOfTheBunch: Before Jamie joins the group in Season 12, he is this, being only seventeen at the start of the first season.
58* PrettyBoy: He is played by a young Michael Landon after all.
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder: Hop Sing]]
62[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hop_sing.jpg]]
63%%
64-> Played by Victor Sen Yung
65The Cartwrights' hired chef.
66----
67!!Tropes:
68* SupremeChef: He is one, as everyone who stays for dinner at the Cartwrights' can attest. Hoss, in particular, is a big fan.

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